Walt Cooper, Ed.D.

Walt Cooper assumed the role of superintendent in the Cheyenne Mountain School District on July 1, 2006 after having served as the District’s Assistant Superintendent for Business Operations since 2002.

Dr. Cooper is a native of Lakewood, Colorado and is a graduate of Alameda High School in the Jefferson County Public Schools. He holds a bachelor’s degree in physical education from the University of Northern Colorado, a master’s degree in educational administration from Ft. Hays (Kansas) State University, and a doctorate in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Dr. Cooper started his public education career as a high school teacher and coach in Hill City, Kansas in 1984. He later served as middle school principal in Hill City before returning to Colorado as principal of North Valley Middle School in LaSalle. Following a two-year term as Assistant Superintendent in Weld County, Colorado, Dr. Cooper was named superintendent of the Ellicott, Colorado School District in 1998. He served in this role for four years before coming to Cheyenne Mountain.

In addition to his duties as superintendent, Dr. Cooper recently completed a three-year term as Legislative Committee Chairperson of the Colorado Association of School Executives (CASE), is a board member of the Green Education Foundation, and is an alumnus (2009) of the Colorado Springs Leadership Institute.

Dr. Cooper received the 2012 CASE Policy Leadership Award for his work with the Colorado General Assembly in support of K-12 public schools. He also received the 2002 Bob Cito Vision and Leadership Award from the Pikes Peak BOCES for his work in developing cooperative programs for special needs students in eastern El Paso County, and was named 1996 Administrator of the Year by the Colorado Association of Health, Physical Education, and Dance for his support of physical education in public schools.